As the masses sweat in places we'd rather not know sweat could permeate from, it's easy for our minds to linger to breezy coasts and ice-cold beverages.

As a cool reprieve, the wine team from New York City's Lincoln Ristorante - General Manager Paolo Novello, Sommelier Bryan Burnett and Wine Director Aaron von Rock - has come up with a list of the essential Italian spirits and cold cocktails to make with them at home.

With a little imagination, you'll be living la thirst-quenched dolce vita on the coast of Amalfi in no time.

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Alcohol sales climbed with little interruption throughout the recent recession, and have continued to expand in recent months.

This is in spite of - or maybe because of - the stagnant job market. So the old adage - that the booze industry survives in a recession because people drink even when they're broke - appears to be true.

"I wouldn't say it's recession proof," said Esther Kwon, an alcohol industry analyst for Standard & Poor's. "People will buy less and they will move to different venues, meaning moving to home instead of a bar. But people will continue to drink, regardless."

As soon as we posted the menu for last night's White House State Dinner, the question began rolling in from my colleagues, commenters, folks on Twitter - and I realized I oughta get my head out of my ramp patch and explain.

Ramps are a member of the allium family (Allium tricoccum if you care to get all categorical about it) and are akin to a wild onion. The flavor is pungent and slightly nutty - somewhere between garlic and leeks, and both the leafy tops and tender bulbs are edible.

Food fanatics get all het up about them because they're, well, incredibly delicious - but also because they're somewhat of a rarity. They're difficult, if not impossible to cultivate, so they must be foraged from the wild or as is often the case, bought at a premium from someone else who's gone out to do the dirty work.FULL POST